Syracuse's Boeheim, Duke's Coach K share uncommon bond

Friday

Mike Krzyzewski has, of all things, golf to thank for his long-standing friendship with Jim Boeheim.

Krzyzewski considers Boeheim, whose second-ranked Syracuse team will play host to No. 17 Duke in front of more than 35,000 fans Saturday night, his closest colleague in coaching.

Boeheim, 69, said he first met Krzyzewski, 66, at a Duke Children's Classic celebrity golf tournament, and they are now the winningest coaches in Division I history with a combined 1,914 victories.

Krzyzewski and Boeheim are connected by their NCAA accomplishments, international success, professional loyalty and charitable work, notably their involvement with events that raise money for the Jimmy V Foundation and Duke Children's Hospital. They're polar opposites in other ways, particularly their defensive philosophies and outside interests.

Boeheim enjoys poker and loves golf. Krzyzewski doesn't play golf.

Basketball is his hobby, and Saturday's highly anticipated game will pit Duke (17-4, 6-2 ACC) against Syracuse (20-0, 7-0) for the first time as conference rivals.

"That was a big talking point last summer," USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said, "and it has a lot of significance because of that unique relationship."

Paths to success

Boeheim became the head coach at his alma mater in 1976, a decade after Duke ended his college career in Raleigh by winning an Elite Eight game, and Colangelo ended his NBA hopes by cutting him from the Chicago Bulls.

Boeheim has stayed at Syracuse and amassed 940 victories. Army hired Krzyzewski as its head coach in 1975, and he's won 974 games over 39 years, including the last 34 at Duke.

Krzyzewski and Boeheim have faced off only two times, with Syracuse winning an ACC-Big East Challenge game in 1989 and Duke taking a Sweet 16 matchup in 1998. They've worked together far more frequently, with Boeheim and mutual friend P.J. Carlesimo initially assisting Krzyzewski during the Goodwill Games and World Championships in 1990.

Colangelo named Krzyzewski head coach of the U.S. national team in 2005, and Boeheim was on Krzyzewski's staff during a pair of gold medal runs. They've both committed to coaching through the 2016 Olympics.

"Jerry's responsibility is to have a staff where you cover all facets of the game and you have people who complement one another," Krzyzewski said. "I knew when I was given the opportunity to coach that the guy that I had the most respect for in the game and someone who I thought was brilliant and different than me, but a lot of the same things as me, that we would complement each other well."

Boeheim watches countless hours of NCAA and NBA basketball for pleasure, but he's not a fan of team film sessions. Krzyzewski can watch film into the wee hours of the morning, and he often does while coaching Duke or the national team. Boeheim has been known to fall asleep during some of those meetings.

From a strategical standpoint, Krzyzewski is a firm believer in man-to-man defense. Syracuse's calling card is a 2-3 zone, and Krzyzewski used to honor Boeheim by calling Duke's rarely employed zone "Orange."

During a 2010 warmup for the World Championships, Boeheim suggested to Krzyzewski during a late timeout against Spain that the U.S. team go with "Orange." Two free throws from Derrick Rose had given the Americans a one-point lead, and a zone caught Spain off guard. Kevin Durant blocked shots by Ricky Rubio and Rudy Fernandez in the final seconds.

"It worked, and we haven't tried it since," Boeheim said with a chuckle. "I guess we're saving it for a big moment down the road."

Two sides, same coin

Krzyzewski has always been open to coaching suggestions. It's part of the reason he spends more time sitting between his assistants than standing in front of the bench during games.

Boeheim remains on his feet for long stretches, whether he's relaxing courtside and talking to a broadcaster 90 minutes before tip-off, like he did Wednesday night at Wake Forest, or reacting to an unfavorable call with contortions and hand gestures.

Boeheim raised his voice at times during Syracuse's 67-57 win against Wake, but he's more mellow than the fiery Krzyzewski.

"He's got unbelievable organization and motivational skills - better than anybody I've ever seen," Boeheim said. "I think it's been really helpful for me to be around that, not that I'm very organized or very motivational."

Krzyzewski and Boeheim deal with the perception that they're gruff, confrontational people. They can be, but neither coach receives much credit for having a sense of humor.

Krzyzewski's image has improved thanks to his association with NBA stars LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant. Boeheim's monotone speech and pointed observations make him a target for criticism, regardless of whether he's joking or just being callous.

When Boeheim stands up for the Big East, he's showing loyalty to his long-time home, just like Krzyzewski is doing when he declares the ACC the nation's top conference. Boeheim's crack about Denny's? Knowing his audience, he talked at length Wednesday night about restaurants and the fine dining experience he had in Winston-Salem.

"Jim Boeheim is a funny, fun guy," Colangelo said. "You wouldn't know that by watching his facial expressions during the game, but there's a whole different side to him. There's a different side to Coach K also. They have a totally different face when they're with family, with friends and with people they trust."

Unlikely comrades

Opposing fan bases vilify Krzyzewski and Boeheim because of their success. It doesn't endear them to many opposing coaches, either. That's the norm for a high-profile figure in the dog-eat-dog world of college basketball.

Krzyzewski has said leaders are taught that they shouldn't show weakness or share their fears, but he's developed an uncommon bond with Boeheim. While coaching the national team, they constantly eat or meet with one another, and their families have become extremely close.

"They mesh well on every level, and their friendship is neat to see," said Duke associate head coach Steve Wojciechowski, who has assisted with the last two Olympic teams. "I think when you get to that level as a coach, it can be really lonely because there aren't a lot of guys who understand what you're going through. I think they've provided each other with a friendship and an understanding of what a guy who is an icon in the game goes through."

Head-to-head competition can be taxing on a friendship.

Krzyzewski gets along well with Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon, and their midcourt handshake was very brief following Duke's recent road victory because Dixon had turned his head to glare at a referee. Boeheim and Krzyzewski have both said they'll be more preoccupied with the players on the court than the coach on the far sideline when Syracuse plays Duke.

Boeheim has participated in more than 1,200 college games, and he contends that the total prevents him from becoming overly excited about any one game, but there's a lot at stake Saturday night.

Regardless of the result, a cherished relationship will endure.

"It's a competitive field where you're not going to have a lot of friends in coaching because you're trying to beat each other's brains in for the most part," Boeheim said. "It's good to have a really good friend in coaching."

Staff writer Bret Strelow can be reached at strelowb@fayobserver.com or 486-3513.

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